Exploring America State by State

Category Archives: Wisconsin

Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church

Posted on by Posted in Churches, Wisconsin Leave a comment

In the heart of Wisconsin, the Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church in Gleason stands as a testament to early Estonian immigration. Founded in 1907, it marks the first Estonian church in North America, built on land generously provided by Sig and Tena Heineman. The church, officially named in 1914, has survived intact, a tangible link to the past. However, a period of decline followed the departure of influential members, halting its active use. Despite the founders’ desire for the church to serve as a lasting memorial to Estonian roots, decades of restoration attempts have encountered persistent challenges.

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Liberty Pole Hill

Posted on by Posted in Parks, Wisconsin Leave a comment

While traveling through southern Wisconsin, I discovered a small hilltop park with a flagpole. I stopped to learn more and was captivated by the story behind the flag waving in the breeze.

During the Civil War, a log cabin was built on this hill as a recruiting station. The American flag flew proudly, visible for miles, inspiring local men to enlist. After the war, the cabin gradually disappeared, and the flag was no more. The hill, however, became known as Liberty Pole Hill, a lasting tribute to the original flagpole.

In 1966, Green County acquired the land and transformed it into a small park. Then, in 2010, a group of citizens erected a new flagpole, and the Stars and Stripes once again flies over southwestern Wisconsin. It’s amazing what you can learn by stopping a reading a sign in a park.

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The Cornell Stacker

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Driving into Cornell, Wisconsin I noticed a large metal framework protruding above the treetops. At first I thought it was a crane for bridge repair, but as I drove into town, I saw that it was something completely different. Standing in Mill Yard Park, the massive metal frame was a stacker used for stacking pulpwood used in the nearby paper factory.

Built in 1911, a conveyor ran down the middle of it to stack the pulpwood after logs were slashed into smaller pieces. It rises 175 feet tall and was used until 1971. It is the last remaining structure of its kind in the United States and stands as a reminder of the paper mill and logging industry in Wisconsin. It is truly an impressive mechanical marvel; you need to see it in person to understand how large it is.

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The Wisconsin Contraption

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The northern Wisconsin town of Wabeno sits near the center of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The logging museum is in downtown, and next to it is a large contraption in a pavilion surrounded by fencing to protect it. The massive machine looks like a cross between a locomotive, snowmobile and a bulldozer. It looks lie something Dr. Suess would come up with in one of his childrens books.

It was built in 1904 by The Phoenix Manufacturing Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin to haul logs out of the forest. It is based on a small steam locomotive, but instead of wheels, it has caterpillar tracks. It required three men to operate: a fireman, engineer and a steersman who sat at the front and guided the skis. It could pull seven sleds loaded with logs. Only a few machines remain in the United States, and one of them is on display in Wabeno.

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The Allyn Mansion

Posted on by Posted in Houses, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Built in 1885 for the wealthy Allyn family, the Delavan mansion served as their primary residence, surpassing even their lavish lakefront homes and winter retreat in Los Angeles. Mr. Allyn tragically passed away within its walls in 1913, leaving the estate to his wife. Upon her death in 1939, the mansion was bequeathed to her step-daughter, Esther, who utilized it sparingly for family gatherings.

Esther’s daughter, Ruth, inherited the property but, facing costly repairs, made drastic alterations, removing the tower, balcony, and porch, severely compromising the architectural integrity. Ruth then sold the mansion to the city of Delavan, which later sold it to a nursing home.
The conversion to a nursing home brought functional changes, including a fire escape and modifications for an elevator. However, stricter regulations forced its closure in 1966. Subsequent uses included a furniture store, which further altered the interior, obliterating original wallpapers and frescoes.

Purchased in 1984 by Joe Johnson and Ron Markwell, the mansion was a shell of its former glory. Years of dedicated restoration have brought the Allyn Mansion back to life, revealing its original splendor and offering a glimpse into the lives of the family who once called it home.

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The Disappointment of Capones Hideout

Posted on by Posted in Ruins, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Notorious gangster Al Capone sought refuge from the heat of Chicago summers and the relentless pursuit of law enforcement in the tranquil northern Wisconsin wilderness. One of his favorite hideouts was Pike Lake. Intrigued by this historical connection, I ventured down backroads to the site, only to be met with a discouraging “No Trespassing” sign. Once a popular tourist attraction, the hideout is now closed to the public.

Feeling a pang of disappointment akin to Geraldo Rivera’s frustration with Scarface’s safe, I continued my journey south to the town of Couderay. There, I stumbled upon the ruins of an old stone building. I couldn’t help but wonder if Capone himself had ever visited this mysterious structure. Now, it stands as a relic of a bygone era.

While I may not have reached my original destination, I found unexpected intrigue in the remnants of the past. I have learned that I might not get to where I wanted to go, but I will sometimes end up where I was meant to go.

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The Haunted Water Tower of Wisconsin

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Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Next to the campus is Starin Park that is home to one of the oldest water towers in the Dairy State. It is a stone tower with a metal tank sitting on the top. It was built in 1889 along with the Morris Pratt Institute. Pratt was a leading spiritualist, and he gained considerable wealth investing in iron mines in northern Illinois. He used his wealth to build an institute for teaching spiritualism. Spiritualists believe that the deceased can interact with the living. They believe a medium can communicate with the dead. It was popular in the late 1800s; the author of the series of Sherlock Holmes novels, Arthur Conan Doyle was a devout Spiritualist.

The Morris Pratt Institute attracted many spiritualists to the town of Whitewater, and it got the nickname of “Second Salem.” At some point, rumors began swirling around it that it was haunted by several spirits. The points on the iron fence point inward instead of outward. They say this is to keep the spirits from escaping the old tower. College students also say that it is not safe to walk by the old water tower at night and are warned not to walk past it alone. I am not sure about it being haunted or possessed, but it is an interesting old water tower that has the look of an old castle tower. A new water tower was recently constructed, replacing the historic one, and it is no longer needed. The city has discussed possibly demolishing the old tower because of maintenance costs, but I hope that they will see the historical value of such a beautiful old tower and save it from the wrecking ball.

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Lost In Wisconsin Book

Posted on by Posted in Wisconsin Leave a comment

Hey everyone!

I’m so excited to announce that my new book, “Lost in Wisconsin,” is finally here!
I spent a lot of time exploring the Badger State, from its charming towns to its historic sites, and I can’t wait to share all the amazing places I discovered with you.

If you’re looking for a captivating read that will inspire you to explore Wisconsin, check out “Lost in Wisconsin” on Amazon HERE 

The Most Haunted Spot in Wisconsin

Posted on by Posted in Haunted, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Stone chimneys and the foundation of a mansion stand along the shore of northern Wisconsin’s West Bay Lake near the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is the remains of a large cottage known as Summerwind. It was built in the early 1900s as a fishing lodge and then purchased by Robert Patterson Lamont. He was United States secretary of commerce during the administration of Herbert Hoover. Legend has it that Lamont fired a pistol at a ghost one night and was so frightened that he and his family abandoned the house.

In the late 60s Ginger Hinshaw purchased the old house with intentions of renovating it after it had sat abandoned for decades. Experiencing strange phenomena her father wrote a book called Carver Effect: A Paranormal Experience in which he claimed the mansion was haunted by 18th century explorer Jonathan Carver. A 1980 Life magazine photo essay including Summerwind among “Terrifying Tales of Nine Haunted Houses”.

Once again the family abandoned the house and in 1988 it was struck by lighting and burned to the ground. The stonework and foundation is all that remains. The story of the haunting was told in a Discovery Channel’s 2005 episode of A Haunting.  You can watch the full episode on Youtube.

I am not sure how true the stories are but it was a peaceful place when I visited. I did not see any no trespassing signs when I was there but I did not poke around since I figured it was private property. I took some pics from the driveway and left.

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A Shipwreck on Dry Land

Posted on by Posted in Ships and Boats, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Standing near the parking lot for the marina in Sheboygan, Wisconsin are massive timbers held together by iron spikes. They are the remains of the schooner Lottie Copper. The wooden ship was Launched in 1876 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. On the evening of April 8, 1894, the schooner was caught by a relentless northwest gale. After an unsuccessful attempt to signal a tug to tow her, the crew dropped anchor near Sheboygan for the night. By morning, water was flooding into the vessel and a companionway and bulwarks were washed away. Her captain signaled for the Life Savers to come out and take off the crew, but before they arrived, the Lottie Cooper capsized and sank. The cargo of wood planks was caught in the rigging hampering rescue attempts, but finally the Life Savers using their large surfboat along with the aid of the tug Sheboygan, succeeded in rescuing five of the six people on board. The sixth man who tried to make it to shore on a makeshift raft of planks, drowned.

The owners abandoned the schooner and over time the hull lying at the bottom near the harbor was forgotten about. In 1992, when new boat ramps were installed, parts of the ship were discovered. They were pulled out of the cold waters of Lake Michigan and set up on shore in a display that holds the pieces in place where they would have been located on the ship. Walking through them is like diving on a wreck only you don’t need scuba gear or a boat. It is a unique piece of Great Lakes maritime history that is free and accessible to the public.

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